Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation
Encyclopedia
The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is an office new to the Obama Administration, created within the White House
to catalyze new and innovative ways of encouraging government to do business differently. Its first director is the economist Sonal Shah.
The office has been working with the Corporation for National and Community Service
, and President Barack Obama
has requested a 2010 budget of $50 million for a social innovation fund to be based at CNCS.
In the past, public monies have been directed to social initiatives that are failing or that have little impact. At the same time, non profit organizations have found that that it is easy to secure short-term startup financing, but difficult to secure capital to sustain and expand successful programs. One aim of the new Office is to focus the flow of public resources into established programs that are well run and that have high impact on social problems, and to then use "government dollars as a catalyst to raise sustainable financing from foundations, businesses and individual donors."
The Office has three goals. It is focused on encouraging government to do business differently by (1) promoting service as a solution and a way to develop community leadership, (2) increasing investment in innovative community solutions that demonstrate results; and (3) developing new models of public-private partnerships that help to produce a greater impact than what can be achieved independently by these entities. Coupled with these three goals, the Office also utilizes the following four general principles: (1)An understanding that strong programs and organizations measure and evaluate what works and why, continuously improve on practices with new information, and invest in effective solutions. (2)Utilizing developing solutions that are presented by communities and individuals across the country so that government can support - and not supplant - bottom-up solutions that have an impact. (3)Encouraging broad participation and leadership from several communities across the nation in order to reinvigorate a sense of responsibility for communities for all Americans and become a catalyst for the next generation of leaders. (4)Share the responsibility between all sectors to accomplish the goals that this office has set forth to create a more effective and profound impact on the nation.
The idea for a White House Office for Social Enterprise was first developed at the Center for American Progress
by then-Senior Fellow Michele Jolin
,. Melody Barnes
, who was Senior Vice President for Domestic Policy at the Center for American Progress, is now the Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council
, which contains the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.
Other staff in the Office include Carlos Monje, Senior Policy Advisor; Howard W. Buffett, Policy Advisor; and Charlie Anderson, Policy Assistant.
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
to catalyze new and innovative ways of encouraging government to do business differently. Its first director is the economist Sonal Shah.
The office has been working with the Corporation for National and Community Service
Corporation For National and Community Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America, and other national service initiatives...
, and President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
has requested a 2010 budget of $50 million for a social innovation fund to be based at CNCS.
In the past, public monies have been directed to social initiatives that are failing or that have little impact. At the same time, non profit organizations have found that that it is easy to secure short-term startup financing, but difficult to secure capital to sustain and expand successful programs. One aim of the new Office is to focus the flow of public resources into established programs that are well run and that have high impact on social problems, and to then use "government dollars as a catalyst to raise sustainable financing from foundations, businesses and individual donors."
The Office has three goals. It is focused on encouraging government to do business differently by (1) promoting service as a solution and a way to develop community leadership, (2) increasing investment in innovative community solutions that demonstrate results; and (3) developing new models of public-private partnerships that help to produce a greater impact than what can be achieved independently by these entities. Coupled with these three goals, the Office also utilizes the following four general principles: (1)An understanding that strong programs and organizations measure and evaluate what works and why, continuously improve on practices with new information, and invest in effective solutions. (2)Utilizing developing solutions that are presented by communities and individuals across the country so that government can support - and not supplant - bottom-up solutions that have an impact. (3)Encouraging broad participation and leadership from several communities across the nation in order to reinvigorate a sense of responsibility for communities for all Americans and become a catalyst for the next generation of leaders. (4)Share the responsibility between all sectors to accomplish the goals that this office has set forth to create a more effective and profound impact on the nation.
The idea for a White House Office for Social Enterprise was first developed at the Center for American Progress
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress is a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization. Its website states that the organization is "dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action." It has its headquarters in Washington D.C.Its President and Chief...
by then-Senior Fellow Michele Jolin
Michele Jolin
Michele Jolin is an American social entrepreneur and policymaker. She is currently a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress focusing on building a policy environment to support social entrepreneurship...
,. Melody Barnes
Melody Barnes
Melody C. Barnes was chosen by President Barack Obama to serve as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council for his administration. Obama announced her appointment on November 24, 2008. She was previously Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress and led the CAP's...
, who was Senior Vice President for Domestic Policy at the Center for American Progress, is now the Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council
United States Domestic Policy Council
The Domestic Policy Council of the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering domestic policy matters, excluding economic matters, which are the domain of the National Economic Council...
, which contains the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.
Other staff in the Office include Carlos Monje, Senior Policy Advisor; Howard W. Buffett, Policy Advisor; and Charlie Anderson, Policy Assistant.
External links
- White House: Domestic Policy Council (which contains the OSICP)
- White House: Office of the Press Secretary: President Obama to Request $50 Million to Identify and Expand Effective, Innovative Non-Profits (5 May 2009)
- White House: Blog: Strengthening Civic Participation (11 June 2009)
- White House: Blog: Replicating Success (8 Oct 2009)
- Corporation for National and Community Service